1
: a colored spot
2
a
: a surface having colored spots or blotches
b
: the presence or arrangement of such spots or blotches on a surface
One way to overcome mottle is to select an ink that is … uniformly absorbed …—Nelson R. Eldred
3
mottled; mottling
ˈmät-liŋ
ˈmä-tᵊl-iŋ
: to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained
mot·tler
ˈmätᵊlə(r)
-ät(ᵊ)l-
plural -s
: one that mottles (as in dyeing or ceramics)
specifically
: a brush for producing a mottled surface
Cite this Entry
“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mottle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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